Determinants of maternals’ handwashing practices in rural Dayak community: Evidence from Tasik Payawan, Katingan Regency Central Kalimantan

Abstract

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions, particularly handwashing practices, significantly impact children's growth and development by 20%. Primarily, handwashing pratice prevent chronic exposure to enteric pathogens. Therefore, this study aims to assess the determinants of handwashing practice in rural community with limited access to clean water. This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in the rural Tasik Payawan District, located by the Katingan River, from October-November 2024. Approximately 30 women with children aged 6 to 24 months were included. We gathered sociodemographic and behavioral data related to handwashing with a questionnaire. Two-way association tables, c2  p-value were calculated using EasyR v 1.68 for Windows. The analysis revealed that maternal knowledge (p-value: 0.010), attitudes (p-value: 0.006), and water sources (p-value: 0.017) significantly influence handwashing behavior. The study indicated that mothers with strong decision-making skills regarding handwashing positively impact these behaviors. Our findings suggest that maternal knowledge and attitudes are crucial for effective handwashing practices in the Tasik Payawan sub-district of Katingan. Enhancing maternal knowledge is essential for improving handwashing behaviors, suggesting that mothers require targeted educational interventions.